But they were 19th in RPI. The math is what got them the seed regardless of the players. Now WHERE they play can be extremely subjective.

 

Right, but the RPI either needs to drastically change or be de-emphasized. Aside from being in the top 5 in the human polls, Louisville is in the Top 5 in the Pomeroy and ESPN BPI ratings, and pretty much any other newer metric.

 

RPI weighs schedule strength very heavily. I think that's perfectly fine when evaluating bubble teams and deciding who gets in (NC State) and who doesn't (SMU), but it shouldn't be given the same weight in the seeding process.

 

A much fairer seeding would have gone like this:

 

SOUTH: 1 Florida 2 Louisville 3 Duke 4 UCLA

WEST: 1 Arizona 2 Michigan 3 Villanova 4 VCU

MIDWEST: 1 Wichita State 2 Kansas 3 Wisconsin 4 Syracuse

EAST: 1 Virginia 2 Villanova 3 Michigan State 4 Iowa St

Iowa lived off upsetting Ohio State in Columbus because at the time it seemed like a huge win.

 

In fact, they lived off that win, at home against Michigan and a lot of close losses all the way until the last week of the season...when they were STILL ranked 24th despite losing two road games at Indiana and Minnesota.

 

 

OSU was just living off Matta's reputation and Craft and the fact that they've been so good for so long now you just expect them to be in the Top 25...but it was obvious by some of their head-scratching losses they just didn't have the horses to go very far this year.

 

Didn't they crush Wisconsin on the road too?

Didn't they crush Wisconsin on the road too?

Didnt everyone?

Right, but the RPI either needs to drastically change or be de-emphasized. Aside from being in the top 5 in the human polls, Louisville is in the Top 5 in the Pomeroy and ESPN BPI ratings, and pretty much any other newer metric.

 

RPI weighs schedule strength very heavily. I think that's perfectly fine when evaluating bubble teams and deciding who gets in (NC State) and who doesn't (SMU), but it shouldn't be given the same weight in the seeding process.

 

A much fairer seeding would have gone like this:

 

SOUTH: 1 Florida 2 Louisville 3 Duke 4 UCLA

WEST: 1 Arizona 2 Michigan 3 Villanova 4 VCU

MIDWEST: 1 Wichita State 2 Kansas 3 Wisconsin 4 Syracuse

EAST: 1 Virginia 2 Villanova 3 Michigan State 4 Iowa St

I like anything that de-emphasizes the polls. Leaving seeding close to the hands of reporters is a stupid idea.

I like anything that de-emphasizes the polls. Leaving seeding close to the hands of reporters is a stupid idea.

 

I agree in principle, although in this particular case, the human polls came closer to what the advanced metrics were saying than did the RPI.

Polls should continue to have little to nothing to do with it IMO.

 

And they finally won't matter in college football anymore.

Kansas has some pretty bad guards.

24-3 run (13-0)/swing due to VCU's press. Finally broken by 2 free throws.

 

 

Running SFA off the floor. VCU hasn't been getting a whole lot of attention from the national press this year, but it will turn up again now that the NCAA's are here.

 

Now with the Marquette and BC jobs open, Smart's name will inevitably be mentioned over and over again as the courtship ritual repeats itself...Jim Calhoun, Hoffman from Mercer, Hoiberg, Greg Marshall, Amaker, Mark Few, etc.

Didn't they crush Wisconsin on the road too?

 

 

Iowa had a heartbreaking loss in Madison where McCaffrey flipped out with an ugly technical and they of course choked away at the end...had the lead in the final minute in Iowa City and lost that one too.

 

Not sure about OSU.

Edited March 22, 201412 yr by caulfield12

4 point plays are good when down 4 with 3 seconds left.

4 point plays are good when down 4 with 3 seconds left.

And it was a flop. Game changing acting.

Don't do something stupid. Haha.

 

4 point play for SFA.....riding a 28 game winning streak, haven't lost a game since late November.

 

And just survived a 24-3 run against them by VCU. Four missed free throws and a 3 point shot with a crazy foul...hit the free throw with 3.6 seconds remaining to tie.

 

Amazing game, probably the best one of the tourney so far.

 

 

Lumberjacks now have a two point lead coming down to the final seconds of OT.

Haymon and Parker showing up huge.

 

VCU barely misses a three at the end, just blew a 10 point lead late. Goodness gracious.

Edited March 22, 201412 yr by caulfield12

And it was a flop. Game changing acting.

 

Soccer players in Europe were jealous of that flop, but there is zero reason to contest that shot.

Soccer players in Europe were jealous of that flop, but there is zero reason to contest that shot.

This. Don't breathe on him.

What a great game. Of course I have Vcu but who cares.

Soccer players in Europe were jealous of that flop, but there is zero reason to contest that shot.

Yup. This tourney has been absolutely bonkers so far.

Soccer players in Europe were jealous of that flop, but there is zero reason to contest that shot.

Horrible play. The only guy who thought it was smart was Shannon Scott.

Sfa has 29 straight wins. Wow

Stone Cold Stephen F. Austin with the stunner

That Wilbekin 3 was huge.

That Wilbekin 3 was huge.

 

 

The dreaded "momentum" changer going into the halftime.

 

That Florida team is going to be extremely tough to knock out with all that veteran leadership. Louisville and MSU, as well.

Edited March 22, 201412 yr by caulfield12

I liked Florida coming into this tourney, and their defense is tough, but damn they are missing everything and still up 10.

The 3rd round (2nd, whatever) always is so boring...

 

Seems like 80-85% of the games aren't very interesting, except the 4/5 and 3/6 games usually.

 

 

 

Pitino made a good point. Everyone is feeling so much pressure in the first round...especially the top seeded teams, that everyone starts rooting for the upset and the teams just tighten up until they get that first victory in the books and can relax a little bit.

 

It definitely worked that way for the 2005 White Sox. Once they had survived and realized they weren't going to give up the division in a historic collapse/run by the Indians...they went back to playing the way they were capable of.

Dayton can shoot over a zone.

Here comes a cuse run.